We are delighted to welcome you to Â鶹´«Ã½AVPeter\u2019s University as a newly admitted international student. As part of your journey to study in the United States, you will need to apply for a Form I-20, which is an essential document for obtaining your F-1 student visa and maintaining legal status in the U.S.<\/p>\n
The F-1 visa status is specifically for international students pursuing a full-time course of study at an accredited U.S. academic institution. As an F-1 student, your primary purpose for being in the U.S. will be to study, and you will have certain responsibilities, including maintaining full-time enrollment and keeping your I-20 up to date.<\/p>\n
Read below for specific details related to questions around F-1 status.<\/p>\n
To qualify for F-1 student status, you must:<\/p>\n
While studying in the U.S. under F-1 status, you must comply with the following:<\/p>\n
As part of the I-20 application process, F-1 students must provide financial documentation showing their ability to pay for:<\/p>\n
Acceptable documents include:<\/p>\n
All financial documents must be:<\/p>\n
The Center for Global Learning (CGL) is committed to processing your I-20 in a timely and efficient manner. Please review the information below to better understand the timelines and factors involved in the issuance of your Form I-20.<\/p>\n
CGL I-20 Processing Time Please note:<\/strong><\/p>\n U.S. Embassy\/Consulate Visa Processing<\/strong><\/a> Visa appointment and processing times vary<\/strong> widely depending on location, time of year, and local conditions. We strongly recommend checking current appointment wait times and processing timelines via the U.S. Department of State\u2019s Visa Appointment Wait Times<\/a> tool.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n Several factors can delay the issuance of your Form I-20. These include:<\/p>\n To receive your I-20 from Â鶹´«Ã½AVPeter\u2019s University, please follow the steps below:<\/p>\n Before we can issue your I-20, you must submit your tuition deposit to secure your place at SPU. Visit your Peacock Applicant Portal to submit your deposit<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n After we have confirmed your tuition deposit payment, please allow 5 business days for us to process it. You will then receive an email from the Center for Global Learning with instructions to apply for your I-20.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n Once you receive the email, log in to the International Student Portal<\/a> to begin your I-20 application. You will be asked to submit the following documents:<\/p>\n Carefully follow the instructions and submit all required documents through the International Student Portal<\/a>. Please double-check that your documents are clear and accurate to avoid any delays in processing.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n Once your documents have been reviewed and approved, your I-20 will be issued. Your I-20 will be uploaded to the International Student Portal<\/a> where it will remain available for download.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n After receiving your I-20, you must pay the SEVIS I-901 fee<\/a>. This fee is required to activate your SEVIS record, which is a necessary step before you apply for your F-1 visa. You can pay this fee online at www.fmjfee.com<\/a>. Be sure to keep the receipt for your visa interview.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n With your I-20 and SEVIS I-901 payment receipt, you can now schedule an appointment<\/a> for your F-1 visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Make sure to bring all required documents to your interview, including:<\/p>\n You can apply for the F-1\u00a0 visa up to 365 days prior to your program start date. Visit the U.S. Department of State website for information on Visa Appointment Wait Times<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n If you are a Canadian citizen, you do not need to obtain a visa to enter the U.S. in F-1 student status. However, in order to be admitted into the U.S. under this status, you must present the following documents at the border:<\/p>\n Be sure to have these documents with you to ensure a smooth entry process into the U.S.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n Once your F-1 visa has been issued, you are eligible to enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the program start date listed on your I-20. Be sure to carry your I-20, passport, visa, and financial documents when traveling to the U.S.<\/p>\n Upon arrival, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer will inspect your documents and admit you into the country as an F-1 student. Remember to keep your I-20 and other important documents safe throughout your stay in the U.S.<\/p>\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n Upon arrival to the U.S., be sure to complete the Contact Information Update form through the International Student Portal<\/a>.\u00a0 DO NOT complete this form until you are physically present in the U.S<\/strong>. To complete this form correctly, you will need to enter your physical address in the U.S. and you will need to upload the following items:<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Our standard processing time is 5 business days from the date we receive a complete and accurate application, including all required supporting documentation.<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Once you receive your I-20, you must schedule a visa appointment with a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country.<\/p>\n\n
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\nSteps to Apply for Your I-20<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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